Russia steps up tea purchase from India, even pays a premium

Russia has stepped up purchase of tea from India in the last fortnight and is even paying a premium for the brew.

Increased demand from a country which is one of the largest buyers of Indian tea has resulted in as much as a 50% jump in the prices of orthodox tea - loose leaf tea manufactured in the traditional way.



Prices of good-quality CTC tea have also zoomed by up to 40%, since Russia consumes this variety as well.

Orthodox tea is known to have more of a layered, bright and brisk taste, whereas CTC tea usually has steep, quicker, stronger and very bold tastes and even bitter notes.

The war between Russia and Ukraine that started in February had disrupted Indian tea exports to Russia.